Drone service a misplaced priority –Kennedy Agyapong fires

Member of Parliament for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong believes that the much talked about Medical drone service is a misplaced priority.

According to the maverick MP, this drone service will only make sense if leaders stop travelling abroad for medical treatment.

“First things first; before you take the drone to deliver the drugs, check the quality of the drugs and the facilities or the hospitals. It is more important to me… Is the drone a priority? I will say no.”

“Until we have sophisticated hospitals such that we don’t have to travel to America or South Africa, then you can think of drones” he spoke on Adom TV’s Badwam.

Sharing more thoughts on the deal, Mr. Agyapong also said he did not expect Zipline to make any profits in Ghana given their mode of operations.

“The company bringing the drones has made its mind up that this is charity because it will not get its money back.”

Zipline will be receiving payment on a delivery basis. It has so far settled on one distribution centre to be located at Suhum.

When at full operations, Fly Zipline expects to be running 150 flights per day from each of its four distribution centres.

Mr. Agyapong, known to be a wealthy businessman, further stressed that “I would never invest my money” in such a venture.

“How much would you make and how many times will you get the opportunity to [launch the drone]. It is not good business for the person.”

The drone deal has been met with a lot of displeasure from several stakeholders especially the Ghana Medical Association who have called on the government to suspend the deal.

The Deputy Minister of Information Pius Enam Hadzide said the government will not suspend the deal but rather will engage in further consultations.